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This briefing paper raises awareness of the critical but invisible unpaid and paid work that older women do and how this sustains their families, communities and economies. The paper argues that older women should be recognised as economic, political and social actors equal with others in society, whose rights must be respected and protected. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) signal a step-change in the international community’s mindset. They recognise that gender equality is integral to all aspects of development. They also commit global stakeholders to ensuring older people’s inclusion and participation. Now the link must be made that gender equality will only be a reality when women and men of all ages are able to make meaningful choices and have control over their right to work, paid or unpaid, and their right not to work.